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Tri-Textured Mediterranean Lentil Soup
Course: Featured Recipes, SoupsServings6
servingsPrep time30
minutesCooking time1
hour30
minutesCalories224
kcalI set out to create a lentil soup that was as good as the one I used to order from my local Mediterranean joint, Sultan’s. The flavors are as good and with a bit more texture, I think it’s better. With a zillion grams of protein and endless reheating potential, it’s one of those recipes I aspire to make every Sunday night. It’s tricky because lentil soup definitely isn’t pretty. But this one-pot lentil soup recipe doesn’t need to be. Easy and super tasty, this is simply the best lentil soup recipe.
Ingredients
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1 tsp salt
1/2 lb (8 oz) lentils, rinsed
1/2 cup chopped tomatoes
1 quart vegetable broth
1 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp thyme
1/4 tsp cardamom
1/4 tsp curry
Directions
- Prep
- Add olive oil to a large pot and heat (use water for WFPB)
- Once heated, add chopped onions, carrots, celery, and salt
- Cook for 8 minutes (or until onions are translucent)
- Add lentils, tomatoes, vegetable broth, and spices
- Bring to a boil
- Cover, reduce heat, and cook for 30-40 minutes (until lentils are tender)
- Blend
- Let your mixture cool for 15 minutes (safe, but optional)
- Add 1/4 to 3/4 of the mixture to your blender container
- Blend on low for 10 seconds
- Pour half of what you blended back into the pot with the unblended mixture
- Blend what is left in the container on high for another 10-15 seconds until smooth
- Serve
- Add double-blended mixture back to the pot (you should have 3 textures)
- Stir it up, serve it hot, and enjoy
Notes
- Spices: Cumin is the main spice in this recipe. The other spices are optional and can be varied based on what you have (coriander, thyme, curry, red pepper flakes, etc).
- Texture: You can adjust the texture to your preference – some restaurants serve it fully blended, others not blended at all. We suggest three textures as instructed. Blending a portion with an immersion blender works well, too.
- Instant Pot instructions: Start on sauté mode and after adding all ingredients, pressure cook on high for 15 minutes.
- WFPB: Make this WFPB (Whole Food Plant Based) by sautéing vegetables in water instead of oil.
- Garnish: Garnish with something colorful like parsley and crushed red pepper to enhance presentation.
- Depth: Add depth – Include 1-2 cloves of minced garlic and 1 tablespoon of tomato paste during the sautéing step
- Vegetable boost: Add a handful of fresh spinach or kale at the end of cooking
- Brighten with acid: A squeeze of fresh lemon juice just before serving will balance flavors
- Finish with fresh herbs: Add fresh chopped cilantro, parsley, or mint just before serving
- Yield: This recipe yields approximately 4-6 servings (about 1.5 cups per serving)
14 responses to “Tri-Textured Mediterranean Lentil Soup”
So good!
Even my “I hate lentils” husband said it was very, very good…perfect seasonings.
I used the Vitamix immersion blender.
The texture was perfect.
Reminded me of a Lebanese restaurant I used to go to for my birthday lunch (when I was still working) specifically for their lentil soup (and my b-day is tomorrow).
Next to try the falafel.
Thanks to both of you for all your work and sharing with us.So good!
Even my “I hate lentils” said it was very, very good…perfect seasonings.
I used the Vitamix immersion blender.
The texture was perfect.
Reminded me of a Lebanese restaurant I used to go to for my birthday lunch (when I was still working) specifically for their lentil soup (and my b-day is tomorrow).
Next to try the falafel.
Thanks to both of you for all your work and sharing with us.I just made it. This recipe is a winner. I goofed up the blending instructions and put the Vitamix on high and it was all pureed in about 1 second, so mine is just bi-texture this time. Thanks for another easy and delish healthy recipe.
The tri-texture is nice but not a deal breaker at all. It’s however you like it (and how much time you have to play with it.) Glad you liked it!
Good soup. Instant Pot—I started on saute mode and after adding all the ingredients, pressure cooked on high for 15 minutes. The entire process took less than an hour, start to finish.
Thank you Heather! I’m going to add this to the post itself
Thyme, cardamom and curry…the optionals. Should I only add one or should I add all 3? Or make it without any the first time?
I have never had lentil soup to my knowledge but someone just gave me 3 lbs of the dry red lentils.All three! We said optional just to make it less intimidating for those just jumping in. Leave any of those out if you must, but add them all if you can!
This lentil soup recipe is the absolute best!! Definitely my favorite soup, hands down. And the “optional” spices listed? Yeah, those make this recipe over-the-top good! That being said… I’ve recently discovered that I get an allergic reaction from tomatoes. *gasp!* Yeah, so that stinks. But, I set out to make my favorite lentil soup, omitting the tomatoes. Without them, the soup was extraordinarily rich! Delicious, but needed some acid to brighten it up. So, after the cooking & blending, I squeezed the juice from 1 lime into the pot before reheating & serving. & Pow! It. Was. Amazing!! Suuuuper close in flavor! So… if there’s anyone else out there like me, who can’t really have tomatoes, I thought I would share the outstanding modification I made! Your recipe is still #1, but I’m sooo happy to know I can enjoy it without a side of Benadryl, lol!
Thanks so much for sharing, Courtney: you got it down to a science. Glad you could find such a nice substitute without sacrificing the flavor!
can the vitamix make hot lentil soup (or any other bean/pea) using raw uncooked dry beans? It seems as though the need to cook the beans for 30-40 mins as listed in the instructions goes against one of the main reasons to have the vitamix (hot soup in 6 mins). I’m just wondering. Have not purchased mine yet but doing a ton of research. Thanks:)
There are several soups you can make start to finish in the Vitamix. Tomato soup being one. 🙂
To make an already ugly soup even uglier, last night I added some vegan hot dog slices to my lentil soup. Less form, more function, for sure. But overall, pretty good (and quick).
I agree! Poor lentil soup is not pretty at all…but it is so good! 🙂
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